Chapter Nineteen:Kai
1399 Words
I was going to pretend I had handled the situation with dignity.
I hadn’t.
The moment Sebastian walked downstairs without his priestly robe, I forgot every sensible thought I had ever possessed.
His arms.
I had seen his face every day. His eyes. His hands. His neck. His hair.
But his arms?
Never.
And apparently, my brain had decided that seeing something as innocent as Sebastian’s arms was enough to send every rational thought running for its life.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then I looked away.
Then I looked back.
Bad idea.
My wolf was already pacing.
Mate.
I swallowed.
I know.
Beautiful mate.
I know.
Look at mate.
I’m trying not to.
My wolf practically laughed.
I closed my eyes for a second.
There were some thoughts I was absolutely going to keep to myself.
Especially the wild ones.
Sebastian looked completely unaware of the internal war happening inside my head.
He was wearing a long, simple shirt with trousers and loafers. Nothing extravagant. Nothing revealing.
And somehow, he looked more devastating than he ever had.
He looked comfortable.
He looked like himself.
And, more importantly, he looked like a man going on a date.
With me.
My chest warmed at the thought.
That morning had started normally enough. Breakfast, meetings, reports, discussions with other Alphas, and then a long meeting with the elders.
I had barely survived it.
Not because the meeting was difficult.
Because I kept thinking about tonight.
My first actual date with my mate.
When Aiden found me later that afternoon, he immediately knew something was going on.
“So,” he said, leaning against the doorway. “What’s the plan?”
I looked at him.
“I’m not telling you.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Why?”
“Because it’s a secret.”
“Since when do you have secrets from me?”
“Since it’s a mate thing.”
Aiden stared at me for two seconds before bursting out laughing.
“You know I have a mate, right?”
“Exactly.”
“So you can tell me.”
“No.”
He laughed again.
“You are unbelievable.”
“I am protecting the sanctity of my date.”
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
I ignored him.
Then Sebastian appeared.
And I forgot Aiden existed.
My wolf practically slammed against the walls of my mind.
Mate.
Sebastian walked toward us, and I swear the entire room became quieter.
Everyone looked at him.
Aiden.
Jack.
My mother.
Liam.
Everyone.
And I immediately stepped forward.
Mine.
The growl escaped before I could stop it.
Low.
Quiet.
Possessive.
“Mine.”
Everyone laughed.
My mother shook her head.
“We know, Kai. He’s yours.”
I frowned.
“Then why is everyone staring?”
“Because he looks different,” she said.
I looked at Sebastian again.
She was right.
He looked different.
And I couldn’t stop staring either.
My wolf was practically purring.
Our mate.
I wanted to hide him from everyone.
Instead, I settled for standing slightly in front of him.
Sebastian looked at me with those blue eyes.
“Are we ready?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
We walked toward the car.
I opened the door for him, and when he sat down, I closed it gently before walking around to my side.
Once I started driving, I glanced at him.
“You look beautiful.”
He smiled.
“Thank you.”
There was a pause.
Then I asked the question that had been bothering me.
“Why aren’t you wearing your robe?”
His expression changed slightly.
Before he could misunderstand, I quickly added, “Not because I don’t like what you’re wearing. You look beautiful. I just wondered why.”
Sebastian looked down at his clothes.
“I didn’t want anyone to misunderstand.”
“Misunderstand what?”
He looked at me.
“That I’m a priest.”
I went quiet.
He continued.
“I’m not a priest anymore. And we’re going on a date. You’re my mate. I thought it would make more sense to dress differently.”
Something inside me settled.
Completely.
My wolf went silent.
Then—
He chose us.
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
Sebastian looked slightly confused.
“For what?”
“For saying that.”
He smiled softly.
And I knew right then that tonight was going to be good.
⸻
The restaurant was one of the nicest places in town.
I had made the reservation earlier because I wanted somewhere quiet enough for us to talk.
When Sebastian walked inside, his eyes immediately moved around the room.
He looked curious.
Not uncomfortable.
Just fascinated.
I pulled out his chair.
“Thank you,” he said.
I sat across from him.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I decided to start simply.
“How are you liking the pack?”
Sebastian smiled.
“I like it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Everyone has been kind to me.”
“What about your Luna responsibilities?”
He laughed softly.
“That’s a different story.”
I smiled.
“They’re overwhelming?”
“Sometimes.”
“I told my mother not to overwhelm you.”
“She hasn’t.”
“Then why do you look tired?”
“Because there is a lot to learn.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
He looked at me.
“But I like helping people.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I watch.”
His cheeks turned slightly pink.
I smiled.
We continued talking.
I asked about his education.
He told me about studying business before changing paths.
He talked about his dreams.
His childhood.
The things he enjoyed.
The things he didn’t.
And I listened.
Really listened.
His voice was soft.
His manner was calm.
And those blue eyes…
I was in trouble.
Completely.
My wolf was worse.
Mate is beautiful.
You’ve said that approximately one hundred times.
Mate is still beautiful.
I couldn’t argue with that.
By the time dinner ended, I realized something.
I didn’t want the evening to end.
But I didn’t want to rush him either.
So we returned to the pack.
When we reached the house, Sebastian turned toward me.
“Thank you for tonight.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I enjoyed it.”
My heart practically jumped.
“Good.”
He smiled.
“Good night, Kai.”
“Good night.”
He started walking away.
“Sebastian.”
He turned.
I reached into my pocket.
“I have something for you.”
His eyebrows lifted.
I pulled out the small box.
When I opened it, his eyes widened.
Inside was a diamond tennis bracelet.
“Kai…”
“I wanted to give you something.”
“It’s beautiful.”
I took it carefully from the box.
“It’s yours.”
He hesitated.
“Isn’t this too much?”
I smiled.
“There’s no such thing.”
“You don’t have to give me expensive things.”
“I know.”
I gently took his wrist.
The instant my fingers touched his skin, electricity shot through me.
My wolf went completely still.
Sebastian inhaled sharply.
He felt it too.
The bond.
Active.
Alive.
I carefully fastened the bracelet around his wrist.
“There.”
He stared at it.
Then he looked at me.
“I love it.”
“Good.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
Then he disappeared upstairs.
I stood there for several seconds after he left.
My fingers still tingled where I’d touched him.
My wolf was practically celebrating.
Mate chose us.
I smiled to myself.
For the first time in a long time, I felt completely at peace.
I went to my room and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
I thought about Sebastian’s smile.
His laugh.
His blue eyes.
The way he had dressed differently because he wanted people to understand that he was with me.
The way he had reacted when I touched his wrist.
Everything.
I had waited eleven years.
Eleven years for my mate.
And now he was here.
He wasn’t running.
He wasn’t rejecting me.
He was trying.
And that was enough.
For now.
I smiled.
I was going to take my time.
I was going to be patient.
But one thing was certain.
I was going to spoil my mate absolutely silly.
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